Squad announced: 22 May 2026
Thomas Tuchel named the England World Cup 2026 squad on 22 May 2026. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were the highest-profile omissions. Harry Kane captains the side at his third World Cup. England are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Key facts
- England's World Cup 2026 squad was announced by Thomas Tuchel on 22 May 2026.
- Harry Kane captains England at his third World Cup. Captain at the 2022 and 2026 tournaments.
- Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are the highest-profile omissions from the England World Cup 2026 squad.
- Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are included. Marcus Rashford returns from Barcelona.
- England play Croatia (17 Jun), Ghana (23 Jun) and Panama (27 Jun) in Group L - all evening BST.
England World Cup 2026 Squad: The Full 26-Player List
Thomas Tuchel named the England World Cup 2026 squad on 22 May 2026 in a live broadcast from Wembley Stadium. The selection shocked pundits and supporters, with the omission of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer generating immediate debate. Tuchel defended his choices, saying: "Teams win championships. It is as simple as that." Harry Kane leads the squad as captain for a third consecutive major tournament. England are ranked fourth in the world by FIFA and are among the favourites to win the tournament.
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Jordan Pickford | Everton |
| Dean Henderson | Crystal Palace |
| James Trafford | Manchester City |
Jordan Pickford is England's undisputed number one, with extensive tournament experience across two World Cups and three European Championships. Dean Henderson has had a strong Premier League season with Crystal Palace. James Trafford, 23, is the uncapped third choice from Manchester City.
Defenders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Reece James | Chelsea |
| Tino Livramento | Newcastle United |
| Marc Guehi | Manchester City |
| Ezri Konsa | Aston Villa |
| John Stones | Manchester City |
| Jarell Quansah | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Nico O'Reilly | Manchester City |
| Dan Burn | Newcastle United |
| Djed Spence | Tottenham Hotspur |
Reece James returns after injury problems that disrupted his involvement in recent tournaments. John Stones is a key figure in Tuchel's defensive setup. Marc Guehi, the former Crystal Palace captain who moved to Manchester City in January 2026, is expected to partner Stones in the central defensive positions. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who played as a midfielder under Gareth Southgate, was omitted entirely - a decision that Tuchel described as based on his assessment of what the team needed. This is the first major England tournament squad since the 1986 World Cup without a Liverpool player.
Midfielders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| Elliot Anderson | Nottingham Forest |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| Jordan Henderson | Brentford |
| Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa |
| Kobbie Mainoo | Manchester United |
| Eberechi Eze | Arsenal |
Declan Rice remains the anchor of England's midfield after his exceptional form for Arsenal. Jude Bellingham, 22, is at his second World Cup and is one of the most highly-rated players in world football following his performances for Real Madrid. Kobbie Mainoo is included after establishing himself at Manchester United. Jordan Henderson, 35, is included despite limited club football at Brentford this season. Eberechi Eze, who has excelled for Arsenal, provides creativity. Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa completes the midfield options.
Forwards
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich |
| Ivan Toney | Al-Ahli |
| Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal |
| Marcus Rashford | Barcelona (loan from Manchester United) |
| Anthony Gordon | Newcastle United |
| Noni Madueke | Arsenal |
Harry Kane is England's all-time leading scorer and arrives having scored a staggering 60 goals across all competitions for Bayern Munich this season. Bukayo Saka is at his second World Cup, having been the player who missed the decisive penalty in the Euro 2020 final shootout. Marcus Rashford returns after a loan spell at Barcelona from Manchester United. Ivan Toney is a surprise inclusion, having played just seven minutes of international football since Euro 2024, but his physical presence as a target striker gives Tuchel an option. Ollie Watkins and Anthony Gordon provide pace and directness from wide positions.
Key Omissions from the England World Cup 2026 Squad
Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are the two highest-profile omissions from the England World Cup 2026 squad, with both having been central to England's attacking play under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024. Tuchel's decision to leave out two of the most creative players available to him reflects his preference for a more structured, direct approach. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had moved into a midfield role under Southgate, was also omitted. Harry Maguire, who was a regular starter under Southgate, does not make the squad under Tuchel. Luke Shaw, Lewis Hall, Adam Wharton and Jarrod Bowen are other notable absentees.
England's World Cup 2026 Group Stage Matches
England face Croatia on 17 June (9pm BST, ITV1, AT&T Stadium Dallas), Ghana on 23 June (9pm BST, BBC One, Gillette Stadium Boston) and Panama on 27 June (10pm BST, ITV1, MetLife Stadium New Jersey). All three matches kick off in the UK evening and all are free on BBC or ITV with no subscription required.
England's World Cup 2026 Preparation
Thomas Tuchel's squad gathered for a pre-tournament training camp in Palm Beach, Florida from 1 June 2026. Players not involved in European club finals (the Arsenal and Crystal Palace contingents competing in the Champions League and Europa League finals) joined the camp later. England played a warm-up match before the tournament to prepare for the heat and conditions of North American summer football.
The squad's preparation has been guided by Tuchel's philosophy of collective commitment over individual stardom. His public comments about the squad selection emphasised team cohesion, physical intensity and a clear tactical structure as the priorities for the World Cup campaign. This approach, which resulted in the high-profile exclusions of Foden and Palmer, reflects Tuchel's experience of managing teams at the highest level of club football across four European leagues.
England's fitness and injury status going into the tournament has been closely monitored given the compressed fixture schedule and the physical demands of a North American summer. The group stage matches kick off at 9pm or 10pm BST for UK audiences, which corresponds to 4pm or 5pm in the Eastern US time zones where England's matches are played. The heat and humidity of a Texas summer for the Croatia match and a New Jersey late-June evening for the Panama match present different environmental challenges from European football.
England's Path to the Final: The Bracket
If England win Group L, their Round of 32 match on approximately 1 July would be against a third-placed team from another group, likely in Atlanta. From the Round of 16 onwards, all matches take place in the USA. The quarter-finals are on 9 to 11 July, semi-finals on 14 and 15 July at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The tournament's bracket is structured so that Group L winners cannot meet Group H (Spain), Group I (France) or Group J (Argentina) winners until the semi-finals at the earliest.
England's 2026 campaign carries the weight of expectations accumulated since the 1966 World Cup victory. The 2018 semi-final under Gareth Southgate, the 2020 European Championship final defeat and the 2024 European Championship final defeat have all brought England close to major honours without delivering. The 2026 tournament, with a group stage that does not include any of the other top-four seeds, represents a genuine opportunity for England to reach the latter stages of a World Cup in the same bracket that excludes Spain, France and Argentina until the semi-finals.
England's 26-man squad contains players from 11 different clubs. Arsenal contribute four players (Rice, Eze, Saka, Madueke). Manchester City contribute four (Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly, Trafford). Aston Villa contribute three (Konsa, Rogers, Watkins). Newcastle contribute three (Livramento, Burn, Gordon). Real Madrid contribute one player in Bellingham. Bayern Munich provide Kane. Twenty of the 26 players are Premier League-based, reflecting the depth and quality of the English top flight as a source of international talent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in the England World Cup 2026 squad?
The 26-player England World Cup 2026 squad named by Thomas Tuchel on 22 May 2026 is: Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City). Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham). Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal). Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Noni Madueke (Arsenal).
Who is the England World Cup 2026 captain?
Harry Kane. Kane captains England at his third World Cup, having also captained the side at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
Why were Phil Foden and Cole Palmer left out of the England squad?
Thomas Tuchel omitted both players from his 26-man England World Cup 2026 squad. Tuchel explained his selection philosophy as prioritising team cohesion and collective work-rate over individual talent, saying teams win championships. The specific reasons for each omission were not publicly detailed beyond general squad philosophy.
Who manages England at the 2026 World Cup?
Thomas Tuchel. The German manager was appointed England head coach in October 2024, with his contract beginning on 1 January 2025. Tuchel previously managed Chelsea (winning the Champions League in 2021), Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
